Since someone asked for my comments, here they are on the Mavs supposedly
short list 5 coaches.

Jim Cleamons: Bulls won't let anyone talk to him until after the Bulls are 
out of the playoffs.  Mavs want to have a new coach long before then.

Brad Davis: Hasn't shown me anything to indicate he is head coaching 
material.  He only has two years of assistant coaching experience and I
got the impression that Motta did not give him too much responsibility.
Plus, the local media probably would not like his selection and the new
owners might be concerned with the local perception.  Why not have just
kept Motta if you're just going to replace him with Davis, who supposedly
has been groomed in Motta's style.  The Mavs will be interviewing him 
early next week.

Larry Brown: Indiana was upset that his name appeared publicly on the 
Mavs' list before Dallas asked permission from Indiana about Brown 
(reportedly this is a new ownership screw up as someone mentioned that they 
were the ones who leaked the 5 short list names).  The Mavs issued a 
statement that Brown is not on the list and never was on the list [anyone
actually believe that?].  If he is ready to move on (feels he has taken
Indiana as far as he can and Reggie Miller won't re-sign), he's a good guy
for the Mavs to get.  Brown has an agreement with Indiana that they will
let him go if he wants to, but it will cost.  But it sounds like he is no
longer a candidate.

Rick Pitino: I like him, but doubt the Mavs will put up everything Pitino 
is going to want (lots of dough, full control, and partial ownership).  
The athletism of the Mavs team fits well with Pitino's style - running 
offense and pressing defense.  And he can teach the defense that this team 
is so sorely lacking.  He has the experience and respect that this team
needs.

Paul Westphal: it's looking more and more like Westphal will be the new 
Mavs coach.  The team is bringing him in this weekend for an interview
[although they claim that doing so does not mean he is now the top
candidate].  A good offensive coach, little defense coach.  I'm not 
thrilled with this possibility.  You get the same positives that we had 
with Motta.  Plus, it seems a heck of a lot like the same path we took when 
Motta left the first time - quick hiring of the former Phoenix coach 
(MacLeod) who didn't have a vastly different style from Motta.  If
Westphal brings in a good defensive assistant coach, I'd feel better about
this selection.

BTW, I glad that John Calipari and Roy Williams were not on the short
list.  There have been several cases of college only coaches stepping to
the NBA and failing or taking a lot of time to adjust to the NBA style.
And the dominating, full control style of college coaching often doesn't
work in the NBA and can cause the players to revolt.  It sounded somewhat
like a Quinn Buckner situation which had already failed here.  


patricia